Lateral insertion method for spinous process spacer with deployable member

• US 20050228383A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Klyce, Henry A., Zucherman, James F., Hsu, Ken Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7068 Devices comprising separate rigid parts, assembled in situ, to bear on each side of spinous processes; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7071 Implants for expanding or repairing the vertebral arch or wedged between laminae or pedicles; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/37 Coumarins, e.g. psoralen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer

Abstract

A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a deployable second arm that converts between a first position for insertion and a second position for retention of the implant between adjacent spinous processes. A tool can be used to insert the spine distraction implant.

Claims

1. A method for laterally implanting an apparatus between spinous processes including the steps of:

accessing spinous processes from the side;

inserting between the spinous processes at least one arm of the apparatus with the arm in an insertion position; and

after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the arm to a retention position relative to a side of the spinous processes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said inserting step includes inserting first and second arms laterally between the spinous processes, wherein said arms are in an insertion position during the insertion step; and

after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the first and second arms so that the first arm is adjacent to a first spinous process and a second arm is adjacent to a second spinous process.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said arm is made of a flexible material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said arm is made of a material that has a springy quality.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the arm is urged into the insertion position by an element.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said element and said arm move relative to each other to allow said arm to be deployed to the retention position.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the insertion position of the arm is about 90 degrees relative to the retention position of the arm.

7. A method for laterally implanting an apparatus between spinous processes including the steps of:

accessing spinous processes from the side;

inserting between the spinous processes first and second arms of the apparatus with the arm in an insertion position and with the first and second arms positioned adjacent to each other; and

after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the first and second arms to retention positions relative to a side of a first spinous processes and a side of a second spinous process respectively, wherein in the deployed position the first arm and the second arm are positioned away from each other.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said first and second arms are made of a flexible material.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said first and second arms are made of a material that has a springy quality.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first and second arms are urged into the insertion position by an element.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said element and said arms move relative to each other to allow said arms to be deployed to the retention position.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the insertion position of the first and second arms is about 90 degrees relative to the retention position of the arms.

14. A method for laterally implanting an apparatus between spinous processes including the steps of:

accessing spinous processes from the side;

inserting between the spinous processes at least one arm of the apparatus with the arm in an insertion position and wherein the insertion position is parallel to an axis that is through a space between the spinous processes and about perpendicular to a plane that contains the spinous processes; and

after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the arm to a retention position relative to a side of a spinous processes, wherein the retention position is in a plane that is about parallel to the plane that contains the spinous processes.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

said inserting step includes inserting first and second arms laterally between the spinous processes, wherein said arms are in an insertion position during the insertion step; and

after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the first and second arms so that the first arm is adjacent to a first spinous process and a second arm is adjacent to a second spinous process.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said arm is made of a flexible material.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said arm is made of a material that has a springy quality.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the arm is urged into the insertion position by an element.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said element and said arm move relative to each other to allow said arm to be deployed to the retention position.

20. A method for laterally implanting an apparatus between adjacent spinous processes, the apparatus including a first arm at a first end of a spacer and a second arm at a second end of the spacer, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing spinous processes from the side;

inserting between the spinous processes the first arm of the apparatus with the arm in an insertion position; and

after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the first arm to a retention position relative to a side of a spinous processes and deploying the second arm to a retention position relative to a side of a spinous process.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said first and second arms are made of a flexible material.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said first and second arms are made of a material that has a springy quality.